Siloxane and siloxane derivatives as encapsulants for organic light emitting devices

• US 6,337,381 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biebuyck, Hans, Haskal, Eliav
• Primary Examiner(s): COONEY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/154,620
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 313/503, 313/504, 313/505, 313/506, 428/209, 428/690, 428/917, 428/195, 528/31, 528/12, 528/10, 257/100
• US Class Current: 528/12
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/22 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/125 specially adapted for multicolour light emission, e.g. for emitting white light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/858 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/873 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/879 comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

An organic light emitting device (10) is provided which is encapsulated by a Siloxane film (17). This Siloxane film (17) is applied to the light emitting portion of the diode (10) providing for protection against contamination, degradation, oxidation and the like. The Siloxane film (17) carries an optical element, such as a lens (18) for example. This optical element (18) is arranged such that the light generated inside the diode (10) is output through it.

Claims

1. A Siloxane film for protection of part of a light emitting portion of a contact electrode of an organic light emitting device having two contact electrodes, one thereof serving as anode and another thereof serving as cathode, and an organic region in which light is generated by means of electroluminescence if a voltage is applied between said two contact electrodes, wherein said Siloxane film includes within its structure an integral optical element designed to interact with light emitted by said organic light emitting device, wherein said optical element is selected from the group consisting of one or more of:

a lens, a filter, a color converter, a grating, a prism, a bubble, a diffuser and a polarizer.

2. The Siloxane film of claim 1, wherein said optical element is either

embedded in said Siloxane film, or

formed in said Siloxane film, or

placed in a pocket-like portion of said Siloxane film.

3. The Siloxane film of claim 1, comprising an array or matrix of optical elements.

4. The Siloxane film of claim 1, wherein said optical element is a color conversion element or color filter realized by a suited dye contained in said Siloxane film.

5. The Siloxane film of claim 4, wherein said dye is filled into container(s), preferably pathway(s), formed in said Siloxane.

6. The Siloxane film of claim 5, wherein said dye contained in said container(s) is either in its liquid state or in its solid state.

7. A Siloxane film for protection of part of a light emitting portion of a contact electrode of an organic light emitting device having two contact electrodes, one thereof serving as anode and another thereof serving as cathode, and an organic region in which light is generated by means of electroluminescence if a voltage is applied between said two contact electrodes, wherein said Siloxane film includes within its structure an integral optical element designed to interact with light emitted by said organic light emitting device, wherein said an integral optical element is selected from the group consisting of:

a lens, filter, color converter, grating, prism, bubble, diffuser, polarizer and a combination thereof.